AN ACT to require all public schools, community colleges, and constituent institutions of the university of north carolina to evaluate certain CONSIDERATIONS ON TECHNOLOGY COSTS AND TO REQUire PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REPORT ON BREAK/FIX RATE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Part 3A of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new sections to read:

§ 115C‑102.10.  Technology costs considerations.

The State Board of Education shall adopt rules requiring all public school units to evaluate the following when acquiring technology, computer hardware, and software:

(1)        The long‑term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the technology, computer hardware, or software.

(2)        Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, computer hardware, or software.

(3)        Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life cycle for the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the average resale or salvage value of similar technology, computer hardware, or software as a percentage of the initial cost of purchase.

§ 115C‑102.11.  Break/fix rate reporting requirement.

(a)        Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:

(1)        Break/fix rate. – The percentage obtained by dividing the number of school technology devices reported as malfunctioning or needing repair due to physical damage, hardware failure, or other breakage incidents prior to the stated life cycle period, not covered by insurance or a policy plan period, by the total number of school technology devices in operation during that period.

(2)        School technology device. – Any electronic or computerized equipment provided for educational purposes in a public school unit, including computers, tablets, interactive whiteboards, and similar devices or anything considered a digital device for purposes of the digital learning dashboard pursuant to G.S. 115C‑102.9.

(b)        Each governing body of a public school unit shall submit a report on the following information to the State Board of Education by August 15 annually:

(1)        The break/fix rate of the school technology devices in the public school unit for the previous school year.

(2)        The total number of school technology devices currently in operation in the public school unit.

(3)        The total number of school technology devices in the public school unit requiring repair that (i) underwent repair or (ii) were no longer in service during the previous school year.

(4)        The total amount of funds spent to repair or replace school technology devices during the previous school year.

(c)        The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by November 15 annually on the break/fix rate of school technology devices across all public school units based on the reports submitted by the governing bodies in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. This report shall include a summary of the data reported by each governing body and recommendations to reduce break/fix rates in the future.

SECTION 1.(b)  The first reports from governing bodies of public school units required by G.S. 115C‑102.11(b), as enacted by this section, shall be submitted no later than August 15, 2026, based on data collected during the 2025‑2026 school year. The first report from the State Board of Education required by G.S. 115C‑102.11(c), as enacted by this section, shall be submitted no later than November 15, 2026.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(50)    To Require Evaluation of Technology Costs. – The State Board shall adopt rules governing public school units evaluating technology costs in accordance with G.S. 115C‑102.10.

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:

(70)    To Evaluate Technology Costs. – A local board of education shall adopt a policy requiring the evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑102.10.

(71)      To Report on Break/Fix Rate. – A local board of education shall report annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of school technology devices in accordance with G.S. 115C‑102.11.

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 115C‑150.12C is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:

(37)    Evaluate technology costs. – The board of trustees shall adopt a policy requiring the evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑102.10.

(38)      Report on break/fix rate. – The board of trustees shall report annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of school technology devices used in the school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑102.11.

SECTION 2.(d)  Part 2 of Article 14A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑218.33.  School technology.

(a)        A charter school shall adopt a policy requiring the evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑102.10.

(b)        A charter school shall report annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of school technology devices used in the school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑102.11.

SECTION 2.(e)  G.S. 115C‑238.66 is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:

(18a)  The board of directors shall adopt a policy requiring the evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑102.10.

(18b)    The board of directors shall report annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of technology used in the school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑102.11.

SECTION 2.(f)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b) is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:

(21a)  Evaluate technology costs. – The chancellor shall adopt a policy requiring the evaluation of technology costs considerations adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑102.10.

(21b)    Report on break/fix rate. – The chancellor shall report annually to the State Board of Education on the break/fix rate of technology used in the school in accordance with G.S. 115C‑102.11.

SECTION 3.  Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115D‑9.40.  Evaluation of technology costs.

The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy that requires all community colleges to evaluate the following when acquiring technology, computer hardware, and software:

(1)        The long‑term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the technology, computer hardware, or software.

(2)        Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, computer hardware, or software.

(3)        Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life cycle for the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the average resale or salvage value of similar technology, computer hardware, or software as a percentage of the initial cost of purchase.

SECTION 4.  G.S. 116‑11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(9c)    The Board shall adopt a policy that requires all constituent institutions to evaluate the following when acquiring technology, computer hardware, and software:

a.         The long‑term cost of ownership, including costs of repairing the technology, computer hardware, or software.

b.         Any flexibility for innovation during the life of the technology, computer hardware, or software.

c.         Any anticipated resale or salvage value at the end of the target life cycle for the technology, computer hardware, or software based on the average resale or salvage value of similar technology, computer hardware, or software as a percentage of the initial cost of purchase.

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 academic year.